The sinker

The sinker is the second primary knitting element (the needle being the first). It is a thin metal plate with an individual or a collective action operating approximately at right angles from the hook side of the needle bed, between adjacent needles. It may perform one or more of the following functions, dependent upon the machine's knitting action and consequent sinker shape and movement:

Loop formation

Holding-down

Knocking-over

(It is always advisable to use one or more of the above terms as adjectives when referring to a sinker, in order to avoid confusion.)

On bearded needleweft knitting machines of the straight bar frame and sinker-wheel type (as on Lee's hand frame), the main purpose of a sinker is to sink or kink the newly laid yarn into a loop (Fig. 4.1) as its forward edge or catch (C) advances between the two adjacent needles. On the bearded needle loopwheel frame, the blades of burr wheels perform this function, whereas on latch needle weft knitting machines (Fig. 4.2) and warp knitting machines (Fig. 4.3), loop formation is not a function of the sinkers.

(NB: On the European mainland, particularly in Germany, the term couliering is used to describe the presentation of a yarn, the kinking of it into a needle loop and the knock-over of the old loop. Also the term 'sinker' often refers confusingly to a jack or other element (that can be sunk into a trick so that its butt is no longer in action.)

The second and more common function of sinkers on modern machines is to hold down the old loops at a lower level on the needle stems than the new loops that are being formed, and to prevent the old loops from being lifted as the needles rise to clear them from their hooks.

In Fig. 4.1, the protruding nib or nose of' sinker (N) is positioned over the sinker

The sole function of' the sinker may be to act as a web holder or stitch comb as on the raschel warp knitting machine, in which case only the underside of the nose performs this function. On single cylinder latch needle weft knitting machines the holding-down sinkers have a rectangular gap cut into their upper surface, remote from the nose, into which the sinker cam race fits, to positively control the sinker's movement.

possible and knitting can be commenced on empty needles. Holding-down sinkers are often unnecessary when knitting with two needle bed machines as the second bed restrains the fabric loops whilst the other set of needles moves. However, if single bed knitting or held loop structure is knitted, a form of holding-down element may still be required (as is the case with some V-bed flat knitting machines).

The third function of the sinker - as a knock-over surface - is illustrated in Fig. 4.2 where its upper surface or belly (B) supports the old loop (O) as the new loop (NL) is drawn through it. On tricot warp knitting machines the sinker belly is specially shaped to assist with landing as well as knock-over. On raschel warp knitting machines, many V-bed flats, and cylinder and dial circular machines, the verge or upper surface of the trick-plate (V in Fig. 3.4) serves as the knock-over surface.

On some machines, the knock-over surface moves in opposition to the descent of the needle (see Relanit, Chapter 13; and Shima contra sinkers, Chapter 19).